the opening sections remind me just a teeny bit of a favorite of mine, Under the Skin by Michel Faber, and something happened that suggest to me that this one, like the Faber book, will have its shocking, cruel moments. on the other hand, there is the sense that this will forge its own path - this story of aliens stranded and scattered on Earth (are there any even living at the "Secret City", at this point?) - and so far its very involving. I like Lorpas, although it looks like the focus is about to shift to a different alien...